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BARKEE riowE, .or FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS. Letters Patent No. 60,395, dated IDecember 11, 1866.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN Be itY known that I, BAKKER LOWE, of Fall River, in the county of Bristol, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and improved Piston Packing and I do hereby declare that the following-is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming partof this specification, in which- Figure l represents a side elevation of the piston. l

Figures 2 and- 4 are sections of rings or casings detached.

Figure 3 is an elevation `of the spiral spring detached.

Figure 5 is a section of the piston, when the same is complete.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to'afpiston packing,in which a spiral spring is used, which is bevelled oif'from the i centre towards both ends, so that thev operatidn of inserting the spring in its place is greatly facilitated. The rings which surround the spring are so formed that they encasethe head and follower of the piston, and they are provided each with an` internal flange, which 's surfaced to the inner surface of the head or follower in such a manner that the escape of steam is preventedand the head and follower are not allowed to come in contact with the cylinde The head e and the follower d Vof my piston are both encased by the rings ab, which are provided with in ernal flanges a b', as clearly shown in the drawing. These flanges are surfaced to the inner" surfaces of the head and follower, whereby the escape of steam is prevented, and by the rings, the head vand follower o f the piston are protected, and all the friction caused by said parts coming in contact with the cylinder (particularly in horizontal cylinders) is avoided. The outer rings form the only bearing surfaces, thus taking all the weight off the two narrow edges of the head and follower, vand causing the whole piston to rest on the outer rings, `lrhich,4 when worn out, can be readily replaced, the head and follower being `protected from gallwear. The rings a b are expanded both laterally andvertically by the spiral spring c, which is bevelled o from the centre towards both ends, as shown in fig. 3, so that the same can be readily introduced in its place. Said spring bears on the anges a b of the rings, and keeps thern in' contact'witli the head and follower of the piston,

and at the Sametime it expands the rings, and keeps them in intimate contact-with the inner surface of the l cylinder, and furthermore, by compressing the springs endways, its diameter Vmusi: enlarge, and consequently, by screwing down the follower, the spring is caused to bear against the rings with a uniform pressured-ll round and a perfectly steam-tight packing is obtained, which can be easily handled.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-'- The rings a I), eneasing` the head and follower, and provided with the flanges q b', in combination with the hevelled spiral spring c, constructed as described, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

.EARKER LOWE.v

Witnesses z B. F. WINsLoW, HENRY BAGsnAw. 

